DOHA: World experts in tourism, hospitality, major event coordination and sustainable development will attend Qatar’s international tourism conference “Tourism in Tomorrow’s Word: What the future holds for tourism in the region,” on February 23.
The conference, which will become an annual event, will feature Eng Issa Al Mohannadi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) who will outline the strategy for the development of Qatar as a tourism destination in the coming years.
Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), will deliver a keynote address on the need to develop tourism to international, sustainable standards. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer Marwan Koleilat will talk about the development of air transport capacity into Doha.
Hosted by Stenden University Qatar (SUQ) in conjunction with Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC) and the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI), the two-day conference held at Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel, will attract leading decision makers in hospitality, tourism, business and government as well as major travel and tour operators and tourism research academic from the region and internationally.
Academic expert speakers will include Leendert Klasasen, President of Stenden University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands and Professor Robert Coelen, Executive Dean of SUQ. Other speakers are Professor Ian Yeoman of ETFI; John Ap, Associate Dean of SUQ; Miguel De Moragas, Professor of Communications and Dean of Faculty of Communications Sciences Research at the University of Barcelona in Spain; Dr Martin Robertson from Victoria University, Australia; Gurjit Singh, Chief Development Officer of Aldar Properties; Sumathi Ramanathan, Regional General Manager of VisitBritain; Mark Wynne-Smith, Global CEO of Jones, Lang La Salle, Hotels and Hospitality Group and Scott Woroch, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Development at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Conference host Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani will welcome experts and delegates, and students from SUQ, will play a key role in the conference as volunteers throughout the event, as well as participating in panel discussions.
Hassan Al Ibrahim, Director of Strategy Development and Head of tourism development committee at the QTA, said: “QTA’s strategic priorities include developing the tourism sector through stakeholder engagement and inclusion while focusing on sustainability and authenticity as key elements in Qatar’s appeal to visitors. To implement and realise the national tourism strategy 2030, we have developed a strong relationship with Stenden University through various initiatives. We are committed to human capital development in this sector to deliver a tourism experience that meets international standards.”
Professor Robert Coelen, Executive Dean of SUQ, said: “The conference, the first of its kind in the region, comes at a critical time, as Qatar is investing heavily in providing a high-quality family tourism experience which will make it an appealing tourist hub.
“We are delighted to welcome so many international experts as keynote speakers, to share their experiences, detailed knowledge and predictions for what trends we can expect and how we can best prepare for them in order to deliver world-class service,” he added.
The Peninsula
